Integrated lumbar combined variable angular distraction structure

ABSTRACT

A spinal treatment apparatus for applying a force to a patient includes a base portion, a telescoping support, a spinal distraction device and an actuator. The telescoping support is mounted on the base portion and includes a bottom member and a top member. The top member is engaged with the bottom member so that the top member has a retracted position and an extended position. The telescoping support is capable of withstanding a force, corresponding to the spinal treatment force, imparted on the top member, while in both the retracted position and the extended position. The spinal distraction device is mounted on the top member and applies the spinal treatment force to the patient. The actuator moves the top member vertically relative to the bottom member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/586,198, filed Jul. 6, 2004, the entirety ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to spinal treatment systems and, morespecifically, to a spinal treatment system that includes an integratedvariable angular distraction structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pain in the lumbosacral spine is the most common of all pain complaint.Lumbosacral spine pain causes loss of work and is the single most commoncause of disability in persons under 45 years of age. Back pain problemsare described in various well-known references directed to acute lowerback problems, and in particular, articles addressing pain management.Treatments for lower back pain include traction-like methods, which arewell known for pain relief. Pelvic traction has been used to treatpatients with lower back pain for hundreds of years. However, mostneurosurgeons and orthopedists have not been enthusiastic about pelvictraction due to concerns over inconsistent results and cumbersometraction equipment to name a few. Simple traction has been known to behighly effective for treating spine pain. More and more clinics havebeen including traction as part of their treatment approach as thetechnology has improved over recent years. More recently, spinaldecompression treatment has advanced due to the improvement in equipmentand treatment results. Traction is generally known as a process ofpulling and is typically performed by pulling and holding. Traction forthe lumbar portion of the spine is usually applied by a force to pull onthe pelvis, or by using a mobilization technique to distract individualjoints of the lumbar vertebrae. Decompression means to remove pressure.In terms of spinal treatment, decompression is typically understood tomean a series of pulls, either periodic or non-periodic, that repeatedlypulls and releases a force from a portion of the spine. By repeating thepulling and releasing force from the spine, the muscles relax so as totreat the spine.

As the technology to provide traction and/or decompression for treatinglumbosacral spine pain has been developing, equipment used for thetreatment has been expanding to include different and more variedmechanical and electrical hardware for a variety of different andspecific treatments. In general, the components of the equipment,including a bed, motors, clutches, linear actuators, and computersystem, for example, are produced by a variety of vendors andmanufacturers. Manufacturers of the final equipment generally produceand/or integrate the hardware prior to delivery of the equipment totreatment clinics. In integrating the equipment, the various componentsthat are used to perform the lumbosacral spine treatment, or otherrelated treatment, are typically arranged in accordance with the designto work as a system, functionally tested, and repackaged for shipping toa treatment facility for installation. One problem that exists for themanufacturer is the time consumption to configure, test, and repackagethe equipment for delivery to a treatment facility. While the componentsare designed to interact with one another functionally, the componentsare generally structurally separate items. In order to perform thetesting of the equipment, the entire assembly must be configured toperform functional testing.

One technique for providing lumbosacral spine treatment has been toapply both a horizontal and angular distraction component for treatingthe lumbosacral portion of the spine substantially simultaneously. Thedistraction is performed on patients that are typically in a supineposition (i.e., a person lying on his or her back with knees bent at aforty-five degree angle) with the lower spine at a flexion of 0-30degrees. The use of the distraction technique in both a horizontal andangular component utilizing conventional equipment, however, is limitedin that conventional equipment only provides for fixed angular positionsduring a given treatment. An operator of the equipment, such as atherapist, sets the desired angular distraction for a patient'streatment based on a patient profile. Other or additional treatmentrequires mechanically repositioning the angular distraction and startinga second treatment on the patient.

Existing spinal treatment systems typically employ a frame to which adistraction unit is mounted. The distraction unit is moveable relativeto the frame by being mounted on a track. The frame must be structuredto withstand all of the force imparted on it by the distraction unit.Such systems have the disadvantage of having a bulky, fixed-heightframe. The fixed height nature of the frame requires space in the entireheight of the frame during transport. Furthermore, as the frame isbulky, it is difficult to add an aesthetic exterior around the framewithout adding to undesirable bulkiness of the system.

Therefore, there is a need for a spinal treatment system that can becollapsed to a minimum height.

There is also a need for a spinal treatment system that is sufficientlycompact to allow the application of an aesthetic exterior whilemaintaining a relatively compact form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present inventionwhich, in one aspect, is a spinal treatment apparatus for applying aspinal treatment force to a patient that includes a base portion, atelescoping support, a spinal distraction device and an actuator. Thetelescoping support is mounted on and extends upwardly from the baseportion and includes a bottom member and a top member. The top member ismoveably engaged with the bottom member so that the top member has aretracted position and an extended position. The telescoping support isconstructed so as to be capable of withstanding a force, correspondingto the spinal treatment force, imparted on the top member, while in boththe retracted position and the extended position. The spinal distractiondevice is mounted on the top member of telescoping support and appliesthe spinal treatment force to the patient. The actuator moves the topmember vertically relative to the bottom member, thereby moving thespinal distraction device to a selected vertical position.

In another aspect, the invention is a spinal treatment apparatus forapplying a spinal treatment force to a patient that includes a baseportion, a telescoping support, a spinal distraction device, a linearelectrical motor, a treatment bed and a counterweight. The telescopingsupport is mounted on and extends upwardly from the base portion andincludes a bottom member and a top member. The top member is moveablyengaged with the bottom member so that the top member has a retractedposition and an extended position. The telescoping support isconstructed so as to be capable of withstanding a force, correspondingto the spinal treatment force, imparted on the top member, while in boththe retracted position and the extended position. The spinal distractiondevice is mounted on the top member of telescoping support and appliesthe spinal treatment force to the patient. The linear electric motormoves the top member vertically relative to the bottom member, therebymoving the spinal distraction device to a selected vertical position.The linear electrical motor moves the top member vertically relative tothe bottom member, thereby moving the spinal distraction device to aselected vertical position. The treatment bed is capable of supportingthe patient and is affixed to the bottom member of the telescopingsupport. The counterweight is affixed to the bottom member of thetelescoping support to balance at least a portion of the force impartedon the top member.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in theart, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of an exemplary structure, in acollapsed state, including a base and telescoping support to mountequipment for performing distraction to a spine of a patient.

FIG. 1B is a top perspective view of the structure of FIG. 1A, in anextended state.

FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1A,taken along line 2A-2A.

FIG. 2B is a cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1B,taken along line 2B-2B.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an exemplary distraction head forapplying a distraction force to a patient's spine.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an exemplary method for performing adistraction treatment alerting a vertical distraction angle duringspinal treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail.Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughoutthe views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims,the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein,unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,”and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in”and “on.”

As shown in FIG. 1A, one an exemplary a spinal treatment apparatus 100(shown in a fully retracted state) includes a base portion 102 andtelescoping support 104 extending from the base portion 102 to mountequipment for performing distraction to a spine of a patient. The base102 may define openings 106 disposed about the base 102 for mountingequipment 108 a. Brackets 110 or other coupling devices may be utilizedto affix the equipment 108 (collectively, 108 refers herein to equipment108 a-108 n) to the base 102. The equipment mounted to the base 102 mayinclude power supplies or other equipment that does not providefunctional operations directly related to the treatment of patients.

The telescoping support 104 may be configured as a bottom member 112with a top member 114 slidably engaged therein. Equipment 108 b-108 nmay be mounted to the base 102 and to the bottom member 112 of thestructure 100. The equipment mounted to the bottom member 112 mayinclude electrical or electromechanical equipment, such as a computingdevice, motors, etc., that provides functional operations duringtreatment of patients. In one embodiment, the bottom member 112 and thetop member 114 may be made of steel conduit (i.e., steel tubing or sheetsteel formed so as to have a polygonal cross section) such that the topmember 114 fits either inside or outside of the bottom member 112.

The top member 114 may include vertical member supports 116 for apedestal mount surface 118. Alternately, the pedestal mount surface 118may be affixed directly to the top member 114. Slide members 120 arecoupled to the top member 114. As shown, the top member 114 is fullyretracted to a height of Dmin.

The pedestal mount surface 118 may include connection points, such asopenings 119, to mount a power distraction device (which is shown inmore detail in FIG. 3) that may be raised and lowered with the topmember 114. FIG. 1B illustrates the exemplary structure in a fullyextended state. As shown, the top member 114 is fully extended to aheight of Dmax. The height of the top member 114 may be variablyadjusted to a height between Dmin and Dmax to move the spinaldistraction device 300 to a selected vertical position corresponding toa desired angle of force to be applied to the patient.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, an actuator 210 is be coupled the slidemembers 120 to raise and lower the top member 114. The actuator may be alinear electric motor, a rotatable actuator, a rack and pinion driven byan electric motor, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or thelike. In the case of using a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, the topmember 114 may be configured as a piston within the bottom member 112 asunderstood in the art. The actuator 210 may be computer controlled toallow for a plurality of subsequent treatment profiles to be applied toa patient during a given treatment session.

A treatment bed 220 may be affixed to the bottom member of thetelescoping support and supports the patient during treatment. Acounterweight 130 may be affixed to the bottom member of the telescopingsupport 104 to balance at least a portion of the force imparted on thetop member 114.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary power spinal distraction device 300 forapplying a distraction force to a patient's spine. It should beunderstood that the power distraction device 300 may be mounted oneither a top portion of the top member 114 or a side portion of the topmember 114. Alternatively, the power distraction device 300 may bemounted to the base 102 or the bottom member 112 and remain fixed andother mechanical devices, such as a pulley, may be coupled to the topmember 114 to provide the angular distraction positioning.

The power distraction device 300 may include a motor 302 or otheractuator that applies a force to a distraction cable or a strap 304.Other mechanical mechanisms, such as a pulley 306, may be included inthe power distraction device 300 for operating the cable 304 by themotor 302. Electronics may be included in the power distraction device300 to power and/or control the motor 302, thereby controlling theamount of distraction force applied to the patient as part of atreatment profile. The electronics may include a processor for receivingsignals from a master computing device (not shown) and convert thesignals to motor commands. The electronics may further include motordriving electronics that supply power to the motors 302. Otherelectrical, electronic, and mechanical components for implementing thefunctionality of the power distraction device 300 may be included asunderstood in the art.

In operation, a computing device that controls operation of the topmember 114 may be programmed with software or firmware to controloperation of the top member 114 dynamically. U.S. Pat. No. 6,152, 950issued Nov. 28, 2000 provides for various operational concepts andconfigurations and is herein incorporated by reference. In oneembodiment, the vertical extension member 114 may be controlled duringtreatment of the spine of a patient. For example, once a patient isconfigured with a harness or other device used to apply force, thevertical extension member 114 may be automatically positioned via aprogrammed setting to a certain height. If a horizontal pulling force isapplied to a patient via a motor other than one operated by the powerdistraction head 300, then the power distraction head 300 may besynchronously controlled to apply a pulling force. In addition, a thirddegree-of-freedom may be applied to the treatment by providing forvertical motion of the top member 114 being raised or lowered during thetreatment.

In further operation, a distraction angle formed by the cable 304relative to a bed (not shown) located horizontally perpendicular to thestructure 100, may be fixed or varied between zero and thirty degrees toaccommodate a flexion over a select area of the lumbar, thereby creatinga “rolling” of the lumbar region during a single regiment of distractiontypes as understood in the art. By creating a rolling flexion, the areaof distraction may be moved from a single to multiple disc area Therolling past a joint may enhance the effect to move the inter-vertebraljoint allowing for a more generous treatment area during distraction. Bysynchronizing the horizontal pulling forces, angular pulling forces, andangular position, three degrees-of-freedom are achieved.

As understood in the art, a variety of pulling forces may be applied toa patient by generating different drive signals. For example, asinusoidal, square, triangle, or other wave may be used to commandmotors that are applying pulling forces to a patient for treatment. Bybeing able to adjust the angular distraction automatically, a variety oftreatments that have not been able to be performed using conventionaldistraction equipment may provide doctors and therapists with newtreatment programs for patients to alleviate spinal pain.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart setting forth an exemplary method 400for performing a distraction treatment alerting a vertical distractionangle during spinal treatment. The treatment process starts at step 402after the patient is configured for a spinal treatment. At step 404, anangle for applying angular distraction for a treatment profile isestablished. In one embodiment, the top member 114 of FIGS. 1 and 2 areutilized to position a pulling mechanism, such as a cable. A treatmentprofile to apply pulling forces to a spine of a patient is performed atstep 406. The treatment profile may utilize a variety of signaling(e.g., sinusoidal, square, etc.) as understood in the art. During thetreatment profile, the distraction angle may remain fixed or be altered.At step 408, a determination if additional treatment profiles may bemade. If so, then step 404 is repeated for the new treatment profile.For example, there may be three treatment profiles, one at 10 degrees,one at 20 degrees, and one at 30 degrees. Before each of the profiles,the distraction angle is altered by raising the location of themechanical element (e.g., cable) extending from the structure 100 forpulling a harness engaging the patient. It should be understood thatadditional software and control configurations may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention.

The structure that integrates components that have traditionally notbeen configured into a single structure so as to provide a fullyintegrated piece of equipment that can be integrated, tested, andshipped as a single unit to minimize manufacturing and installation timeof the equipment. A single structure may be utilized with substantiallyany existing bed for performing spinal treatment. One embodiment of thestructure includes a base configured to mount a telescoping support. Thebase may further provide for mounting one or more components, such aselectrical (e.g., power supply) or electro-mechanical (e.g., motor)component, utilized to provide spinal treatment. The telescoping supportmay further be utilized to integrate one or more electrical components(e.g., computing device) for providing spinal treatment. By integratingthe components onto a single structure, a manufacturer may functionallytest and ship the pedestal without having to fully configure an entirespinal treatment apparatus, including a bed, structure, and equipmentthat does not configure to the structure as currently performed withconventional spinal treatment equipment.

To overcome the problem of conventional equipment providing for a fixedangular distraction, the principles of the present invention provide fora dynamically alterable vertical adjustment of a structure that providesangular distraction. In one embodiment, the structure is verticallyalterable (e.g., telescopic) to raise and lower the distraction angleduring treatment. Alternatively, a member of the structure may beexternally or internally located such that the height of the pedestalremains fixed while the distraction angle is altered. The structure maybe automatically raised and lowered with respect to a predeterminedtreatment profile that is executed by a computing device supported bythe structure.

The above described embodiments, while including the preferredembodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor atthe time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will bereadily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specificembodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of theinvention is to be determined by the claims below rather than beinglimited to the specifically described embodiments above.

1. A spinal treatment apparatus for applying a spinal treatment force toa patient, comprising: a. a base portion; b. a telescoping supportmounted on and extending upwardly from the base portion, the telescopingsupport including a bottom member and a top member, the top membermoveably engaged with the bottom member so that the top member has aretracted position and an extended position, the telescoping supportconstructed so as to be capable of withstanding a force imparted on thetop member, the force corresponding to the spinal treatment force, whilein both the retracted position and the extended position; c. a spinaldistraction device mounted on the top member of telescoping support thatapplies the spinal treatment force to the patient; and d. an actuatorthat moves the top member vertically relative to the bottom member,thereby moving the spinal distraction device to a selected verticalposition.
 2. The spinal treatment apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a treatment bed, capable of supporting the patient, placedadjacent to the telescoping support.
 3. The spinal treatment apparatusof claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a linear electrical motor. 4.The spinal treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuatorcomprises a hydraulic lift.
 5. The spinal treatment apparatus of claim1, wherein the actuator comprises an electromechanical linkage thatcauses movement between the top member and the bottom member.
 6. Thespinal treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom membercomprises a first steel conduit and wherein the top member comprises asecond steel conduit that fits inside a portion of the first steelconduit.
 7. The spinal treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein thebottom member comprises at least one mounting surface to which equipmentis mounted thereto.
 8. The spinal treatment apparatus of claim 1,wherein the base portion comprises at least one mounting surface towhich equipment is mounted thereto.
 9. The spinal treatment apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a counterweight affixed to the telescopingsupport to balance at least a portion of the force imparted on the topmember.
 10. A spinal treatment apparatus for applying a spinal treatmentforce to a patient, comprising: a. a base portion, b. a telescopingsupport mounted on and extending upwardly from the base portion, thetelescoping support including a bottom member and a top member, the topmember moveably engaged with the bottom member so that the top memberhas a retracted position and an extended position, the telescopingsupport constructed so as to be capable of withstanding a force impartedon the top member, the force corresponding to the spinal treatmentforce, while in both the retracted position and the extended position;c. a spinal distraction device mounted on the top member of telescopingsupport that applies the spinal treatment force to the patient; d. alinear electrical motor that moves the top member vertically relative tothe bottom member, thereby moving the spinal distraction device to aselected vertical position; e. a treatment bed, capable of supportingthe patient, affixed to the bottom member of the telescoping support;and f. a counterweight affixed to the bottom member of the telescopingsupport to balance at least a portion of the force imparted on the topmember.
 11. The spinal treatment apparatus of claim 10, wherein thebottom member comprises at least one mounting surface to which anequipment is mounted thereto.
 12. The spinal treatment apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the base portion comprises at least one mountingsurface to which equipment is mounted thereto.